A third characteristic of American religious practice is the separation of church and state.The government has always encouraged religion，and a religious element is present in the conduct of its affairs.Congress，for example，has as official chaplain who opens the session with prayer.The motto "In God We Trust "is printed on American coins.Yet，because of American independence in matters of belief，there is no established state religion.Although the Congressional chaplains have always been members of Protestant denominations，they have not all been of the same denomination；and Catholics and Jews are sometimes invited to lead devotions.The twelve presidents who held office from 1890 to 1963 represented religious denominations as follows：two Methodists，two Presbyterians，two Baptists，one Unitarian，one Dutch Reformed，one Congregationalist，one Quaker，one Episcopalian，and one Roman Catholic.Members of Congress represents a variety of denominations.All religious denominations in the United States are free of any sort of state control or interference，and no religious group receives any support from the government.
The separation of church and state applied to church schools up to the recent times.They have not received any public funds，and religious instruction is not given in the public schools.In the past it was the custom in many public schools to open the day with a prayer.In the 1960s militant groups proclaimed this a violation of the doctrine of separation of church and state.The courts upheld their objections，and prayers were banned.At the same time，church schools were agitating for public funds to help them bear the responsibility for education.These matters have been the subject of considerable controversy，and practice varies from state to state and community to community.One solution to the problem of religious instruction that many public schools have adopted is a system of released time for religious instruction.During certain designated hours each week children are excused to go to religion classes conducted in their own individual churches.The importance of religion in American life is seen in the fact that it is considered within the province of the school to stress morals and ethics in everyday living.